Invalid walker



April 24, 1945. s. DUKE INVALID WALKER 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed March l6 1942 April 24, 1945.

INVALID WALKER Filed March 16, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s. DUKE 2,374,182 I Patented Apr. 24, 1945 INvAmnyvALKE-R l Sam nuke, ohieagomli I ApplicatiomMarchrlG, 1942, Serial No: 434,915

This invention relates to improvementsin .invalid walkers and its primary object :is :to provide a walker of simple compact construction that is readily propelled by the occupant andone :that

affords great comfort and seonvenienceflin .use,

that-is adjustable to different heightszan'dpositions. for the convenience ofrusers whether; tall, short, stout or thin and that in any. adjusted-position is capable. of supporting a patientyorv .user

and that in any position is :strong,.free from-vibration or play ofitsparts, that .is readily ac- .eessible so'that the user. may readily enter br emerge from the structure; one that isdurable in use and inexpensive tomanufacture p j. A still further objectis to provide an inva'lid walker so constructed as to support the user or patient inhsuch position as to most conveniently permit the exercise of his limbs and muscles in small or great degree thu providing means enabling him to more readily overcome weakness and regain his health and bodily activity.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter fully described, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this patent, and in whicha Fig. 1 is a view of the walker in side elevation, I

a second and third position of certain adjustable parts being denoted in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a rear end view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional perforations 5, each post receiving one end-of.

an angularrod '6 formed with perforations I similar to the tube perforation 5,-said rods 6 'hav-,

ing each an horizontally disposed portion a t'erminating in the downwardly-disposed ends' -9, said rods being connected at their -vertical""portions bythebraceifl. a

Inwardly from thedownturnedeudal]the rod portions 8 are supported by the vertical-rods 4 formed with perforations [2, said rodsbeing-telescopically received in'the tubular postsuai'a secured to s'aidbase l and formed with-perforation i4 similar to perforations lZ. Referring -again to theposts 4 and rods :6 the perforationsthereof .a-readapted'to receive the bolts tiwhereby they are connected together in .adjustedpositlon.

Arranged .upon one; post 13 iswa .sleeves'zbracket l'fiformed with perforations,-similarto perforations 14,111) receive the pin] 7! that extends through the aligned perforationszof said-post and of -the rod H to secure said post, rod andsleeve bracket in adjusted position. Connectedto'theiarm of view through Fig. 2 taken on the line 33 andv looking in. the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through Fig. 3 on the line 4-4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Fig. 5 is a view in elevational perspective of I a modified form of the walker.

Like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout.

The walker includes a frame having a base I which in the present instance is of substantially U-shaped formation, the closed end being the forward end of the base and frame and being preferably connected to the base sides by the braces 2, the open end being downturned and provided with wheels 3. Connected to the base I near the closed end are the tubular posts 4 supported upon Wheels 3, said posts being formed. with spaced said sleeve bracket by the hinge I8 is the seat 19 formed marginally upon its under side with a tubular bead [9a and being movable through an arc of slightly more than 180 degrees. When the sleeve bracket l6'is not engaged by said pin, as I when the same is withdrawn, said sleeve bracket restsupon and is supported for rotation by the collar 2| secured by bolt and wing nut 20 to said post [3. The sleeve bracket with seat I9 may now be oscillated or rotated about said post.

Received upon the other post I3 is the second sleeve bracket 22 formed with perforations to permit it to be secured by pin 23 tosaid post l3 and rod ll, said sleeve bracket receiving one end of the seat I!) in the horizontal or operative position of the same and having an upturned lip 22a to snap into engagement with said seat bead l9a to prevent seat play. Secured to the rods II by the rods 24 is the removable back 25. When the seat [9 is horizontally disposed and resting upon sleeve bracket 22 it may be occupied. It may also be raised to inside-the-frame dotted line position l9m, Figs. 2 and 4, out of the way to permit the user to more readily enter or leave the walker. When the sleeve bracket ['6 and seat are moved into outside-the-frame position the seat may occupy the dotted line position 19b,

against the post .I I, or dropped into dotted line position 19c thus providing a completely clear entrance to and exit from the frame.

Referring now to Fig. 5 a super-frame 26 is provided which is formed of two parallel spaced inverted U-shaped side members 21, 28 round in cross section, the free ends of said members being bifurcated and engaging the rod portions 8 and secured thereto by pins 29 or the like, said side members being each formed with perforations 30 for selective engagement by the pins 31 threaded for engagement with the interiorly threaded recesses in the roundly recessed ends of the arm rest bars 32 adjustable vertically of the side members and each provided with a rubber sleeve or the like33, the inverted bases of said side members being secured together by braces 34. Infull, line position, Figs. 1 and 2, the walker may be occupied by a person comfortably in sitting position and the vehicle propelled by the feet or it may be occupied by a person standing and the arms may be rested upon the arm portions 8 with the seat in full or dotted line position. In Fig. 5 the back may be removed and a person may then enter and rest his armpits upon the sleeves 33 while he grasps the rod portions 8 by hand. He

may then walk very comfortably. By disposing theseat horizontally he may, obviously, assume a sitting posture when desired.

What is claimed is:

I 1. In an invalid walker, a frame including support posts,.s1eeve brackets carried by said posts, one of said sleeve brackets being adjustable about its post, and a seat carried by said last named sleeve bracket for disposal upon the other sleeve bracket in one position and for disposal selectively in raised positions within and without said frame, and for lowered position outside said frame.

2. In an invalid walker, a frame including support posts, a sleeve bracket arranged for rotation upon one post, a collar adjustably supporting said sleeve bracket thereupon, a second sleeve bracket upon an adjoining support post, and a seat hinged to said first named sleeve bracket, for vertical movement and for disposal in one position upon said second sleeve bracket.

3. In an invalid walker, a frame including telescopically adjustable support posts, the topmost all) members of said telescopic posts at one end of the frame having portions disposed horizontally, a super-frame comprising inverted U-shaped twin portions having their frame ends bifurcated and releasably secured to the aforesaid horizontal end-post portions, braces connecting said superframe portions, and arm rests adjustably carried by said super-frame.

4. In an invalid walker, a frame including a pair of support posts, a sleeve bracket carried by each of said posts, one of said brackets being rotatable upon its post, and a seat hinged at one end to said last named sleeve bracket and having its other end normally resting in horizontal operative position upon the other sleeve bracket, the point of hinge connection of said seat to said rotatable bracket being spaced laterally from its post whereby the seat may be swung upwardly about the hinge to rest against its post inside the frame or may be rotated about its post to a position outside said frame and turned on its hinge to either a raised or a lowered inoperative position providing clearance for exit from or entrance to the frame.

5. In an invalid walker, a frame including a pair of support posts, a sleeve bracket carried by each of said posts, one of said sleeve brackets being rotatable upon its post, and a seat hinged along one edge of said last named sleeve bracket, the point of hinge connection being spaced laterally from said post to permit said seat to be moved about its hinge into raised inoperative position beyond the vertical plane of said hinge connection toward said frame into gravity-retained engagement therewith or to be turned outside said frame and moved into a lowered inoperative p0- sition beyond said vertical plane with respect to said frame, the free end of said seat resting upon and supported by the other sleeve bracket; when said seat is in its horizontal operative position.

SAM DUKE. 

